What Is The Place Of The Box Store In Horticulture: OFA Town Hall Meeting

The Grower Town Hall at OFA Short Course took a critical look into the relationship between the larger and smaller growers and the retailers they serve. The audience asked questions of a panel of Hort Couture’s Jim Monroe, Bemis Farms’ Tina Bemis, Bell Nursery’s Gary Mangum and Metrolina’s Art Van Wingerden.

An audience member asked about the strengths of the box stores, what they offer to customers and what they contribute to the horticulture industry. Here’s how that conversation flowed.

– They offer buying power and advertising. Whether we like it or not, it’s part of the planting season for the consumer. People who see the big box commercials make it into the independent garden center eventually. It’s a cause and effect benefit.

– Vendor-controlled merchandising. You’re controlling your own destiny about what product looks like in the store. The box stores carry so many categories and plants benefit from the impulse purchases that come with high store traffic. We’re the kings of impulse purchases.

– When asked why they don’t shop at independent garden centers, younger shoppers say they’re scared by the knowledge of the IGCs. They’re overwhelmed by the knowledge of the garden experts there. We need to learn how to market and talk to Generations X and Y about gardening.

– Continuing on making horticulture accessible, research shows that 95 percent of gardeners say they want to see common names of plants on signage, not Latin names. Of the remaining 5 percent, 2 percent say I don’t care. Only 3 percent want to see Latin names.

– Thank God box stores are out there with television ads. Independents can’t afford that kind of advertising and can’t seem to collaborate on it. The box store isn’t necessarily the enemy. The enemy is apathy. People aren’t gardening anymore. There are other ways they’re spending their disposable income. If we get them started with gardening, however, we can educate and take them to the next level. Many gardeners don’t have all the information they need because education has been dumbed down for the lady who just wants to use plants to decorate.

2 comments on “What Is The Place Of The Box Store In Horticulture: OFA Town Hall Meeting”

What is the differnce in market share between box stores and IGC's over the past 3-5 years? It is interesting to see no comments on pricing. Whether or not it is true is there a public perception pricesat box stores are lower than IGC's and is that a concern?

Hard to believe that anyone would recap a discussion and include the phrase …"education has been dumbed down for the lady"… Even if that were part of the conversation, I wouldn't recap it here as important or germane to the discussion especilly when it is extremely offensive to women.

September is back to school time, and that means renewed opportunity to support the young people who are electing to pursue careers in horticulture. I continue to hear from growers of all sizes, from all over the country, that there just are not enough qualified graduates of two- or four-year horticulture programs. We also need to be active in promoting careers in horticulture to those who are not aware of the opportunities available. There have been some great success stories in this area recently. At University of Florida (UF) last fall, Anna Ball and Dr. Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Co. joined UF’s Dr. David Clark in an introductory environmental horticulture couse that’s open to any major. After the class, the line of students waiting to talk with Ball, Miller, and Clark was out the door. It is so important, Ball says, for each of us, individually and collectively to […]

September is back to school time, and that means renewed opportunity to support the young people who are electing to pursue careers in horticulture. I continue to hear from growers of all sizes, from all over the country, that there just are not enough qualified graduates of two- or four-year horticulture programs. We also need to be active in promoting careers in horticulture to those who are not aware of the opportunities available. There have been some great success stories in this area recently. At University of Florida (UF) last fall, Anna Ball and Dr. Marvin Miller of Ball Horticultural Co. joined UF’s Dr. David Clark in an introductory environmental horticulture couse that’s open to any major. After the class, the line of students waiting to talk with Ball, Miller, and Clark was out the door. It is so important, Ball says, for each of us, individually and collectively to […]

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If your operation produces plugs or liners for wholesale growers, please take a few minutes to participate in Greenhouse Grower’s 2016 Young Plant Grower Survey. We know you are very busy and we value your time and input. This survey should only take a few minutes. Greenhouse Grower’s Young Plant Grower Survey has played a key role in building our Top 20 Young Plant Growers list over the years. The information helps us zero in on trends taking shape and the challenges you’re facing as young plant growers. If you have any questions about this survey or you are not the right contact for this at your operation, please email me at [email protected], or please forward the survey link to the appropriate person. We would like to wrap up this survey by July 25, so please take it soon! Thank you in advance for your participation. We value your opinion! » […]

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